The MLB season is long and taxing, which is a big reason why having reliable starting pitching can go a long way. Having starting pitchers who can deliver quality starts (6-plus innings, 3 earned runs or fewer) somewhat consistently not only allows managers to keep their bullpens fresh, but puts less pressure on a lineup to produce at an elite level each and every night.
Quality starts are less prevalent now than they once were, but it comes as little surprise that many of the teams that have gotten outstanding starting pitching, much like the Philadelphia Phillies, have excelled. On the flip side, the New York Mets' inability to get anything going on that front, especially lately, has them just 0.5 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the National League's final Wild Card spot.
To get a sense of how important quality starts are, here's a look at what the MLB standings would look like if they were ordered by that statistic.
Note: All quality start figures and records are before games on Saturday, August 16.
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MLB standings by quality starts
AL East
Rank | Team | Quality Starts | Current Record |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Boston Red Sox | 56 | 67-56 |
2 | Tampa Bay Rays | 53 | 60-63 |
3 | Toronto Blue Jays | 47 | 72-51 |
4 | Baltimore Orioles | 42 | 56-66 |
5 | New York Yankees | 40 | 65-57 |
Much of the narrative surrounding the Boston Red Sox this season is that they lack any semblance of starting pitching outside of Garrett Crochet. Well, the fact that they lead not only the AL East, but the entire American League in quality starts, suggests otherwise. Crochet has obviously played a huge role in that, but guys like Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello have really stepped up for a while now and look like reliable arms Boston can conceivably lean on in October at this point.
AL Central
Rank | Team | Quality Starts | Current Record |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kansas City Royals | 49 | 61-61 |
2 | Detroit Tigers | 42 | 72-52 |
3 | Cleveland Guardians | 36 | 63-58 |
4 | Chicago White Sox | 32 | 44-78 |
5 | Minnesota Twins | 31 | 57-65 |
The one thing that's kept the Kansas City Royals somewhat afloat is their starting rotation, which is especially impressive considering Cole Ragans has been sidelined for a while with injury and Seth Lugo is really struggling. Kansas City still faces an uphill battle in its postseason pursuit, but if the Royals were to get in, there's reason to believe the starting rotation will have played a major role in that outcome.
AL West
Rank | Team | Quality Starts | Current Record |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Houston Astros | 55 | 68-54 |
2 | Seattle Mariners | 50 | 68-55 |
3 | Texas Rangers | 47 | 61-62 |
4 | Los Angeles Angels | 40 | 59-63 |
5 | Athletics | 36 | 55-69 |
The Houston Astros might have the third-most quality starts in the majors and the most in the AL West, but 32 of their 55 quality starts have come from their co-aces, Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown. Obviously, having both Valdez and Brown in the same rotation is a gift, but this statistic shows that the Astros need more from the rest of their rotation. Brandon Walter, a rookie with just nine starts in his career, having the third-most quality starts on the Astros' roster is something that's likely going to have to change for the Astros to go on the deep run they're hoping for.
NL East
Rank | Team | Quality Starts | Current Record |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Philadelphia Phillies | 66 | 70-52 |
2 | Atlanta Braves | 51 | 54-68 |
3 | Washington Nationals | 40 | 49-73 |
4 | New York Mets | 30 | 64-58 |
5 | Miami Marlins | 25 | 58-64 |
The Philadelphia Phillies don't only have the most quality starts in the majors, but they have 10 more than the team that ranks second. Their starting rotation is as good as it gets, and it's allowed the team to build a commanding lead in the NL East. As for the second-place New York Mets, well, David Peterson has 14 of the team's 30 quality starts, and he's the only pitcher on the roster to have a quality start in two months. The Mets have a roster capable of winning when it clicks, but they simply need more from their rotation to have a chance.
NL Central
Rank | Team | Quality Starts | Current Record |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cincinnati Reds | 52 | 64-59 |
2 | Chicago Cubs | 46 | 68-53 |
3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 46 | 52-71 |
4 | St. Louis Cardinals | 45 | 61-62 |
5 | Milwaukee Brewers | 37 | 77-44 |
The NL Central division is proof that while having a dominant rotation helps a lot, it isn't the only way to win. The Milwaukee Brewers have nine fewer quality starts than the Pittsburgh Pirates, yet they're 26.0 games ahead of them in the NL Central and have the best record in the majors (by a decent margin too!). Having a potent lineup and a dominant back end of the bullpen while being rock-solid in the field and on the base paths goes a long way, as we've seen this season.
NL West
Rank | Team | Quality Starts | Current Record |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Francisco Giants | 48 | 59-63 |
2 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 47 | 60-63 |
3 | San Diego Padres | 37 | 69-53 |
4 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 34 | 69-53 |
5 | Colorado Rockies | 25 | 33-89 |
The San Francisco Giants are another example of a team that's gotten its share of quality starts, but have struggled to spread the wealth. Logan Webb and Robbie Ray have been outstanding, and count for 31 of San Francisco's 48 quality starts. This shows how well they've pitched and how lackluster the rest of their rotation is. Obviously, the Giants' lineup is the biggest reason why they'll miss the playoffs, but having only two reliable rotation arms is up there too.